Subject-Verb Agreement Brenham Writing Room Created by D. Herring

Subject & Verb Review What is a Subject? Your subject is the person, place, or thing that your sentence is about. Important reminders: Your sentence may have a compound subject. Your subject will never be in a prepositional phrase. Usually your subject comes before your verb.

Subject & Verb Review What is a Verb? The main verb tells what the subject does or links the subject to another word that describes it. Action Verb: shows action subject performs I walk three miles every day. Linking Verb: connects subject to another word or words that describe it I am tired. Helping Verb: joins an action verb to form the complete verb I was walking three miles every day when the weather was warmer.

What is Subject-Verb Agreement? Subject-verb agreement means your subject and verb must match, or agree, in number. If you have a singular subject, then you must use a singular verb. The dog barks at every sound he hears. If you have a plural subject, then you must use a plural verb. The dogs bark at every sound they hear.

Subject-Verb Agreement It is important to know how your singular and plural subjects and verbs are formed! For your subject, which is a noun The singular form does not end in an –s The dog barks at every sound it hears. The plural form ends in an –s The dogs bark at every sound they hear. For your verb The singular form ends in an –s The plural form does not end in an –s

S-V Agreement Trouble Spots The verb is a form of be, have, or do. Words or phrases come between the subject & the verb. There is a compound subject. The subject is an indefinite pronoun. The verb comes before the subject. The subject is a collective noun.

1. The Verb is a form of be, have, or do. Make sure a linking verb agrees with its subject, not with the word or phrase that describes the subject. Incorrect: The worst backyard pest are squirrels. Correct: The worst backyard pest is squirrels.

2. Words or phrases come between the subject & verb. Prepositional Phrases Incorrect: The number of students have remained consistent. Correct: The number of students has remained consistent. Relative Clauses Incorrect: The dog who likes to chase my cats have run away. Correct: The dog who likes to chase my cats has run away.

3. There is a compound subject joined by and, or, nor. If joined by and, then subjects are combined and become plural, so verb must also be plural. Incorrect: Jack and Jill walks up the hill. Correct: Jack and Jill walk up the hill. If joined by or /nor, then the subjects are not combined, so the verb must agree with whichever subject is closest to it. Either the microphone or the speakers are broken. Either the speakers or the microphone is broken. Neither the teacher nor the students want to stay late. Neither the students nor the teacher wants to stay late.

4. The subject is an indefinite pronoun. What is an indefinite pronoun? A pronoun that does not replace a specific person, place, or thing; it is general (i.e. someone, anyone, everyone, each, every, some, all). Most indefinite pronouns are either always singular or always plural. Beware: indefinite pronouns are often followed by a prepositional phrase or dependent clause. Incorrect: Each of my classes are difficult in some way. Correct: Each of my classes is difficult in some way.

5. The verb comes before the subject. Sentences that ask a question. Is the book in the library? Turn the sentence into a statement. The book is in the library. Sentences that begin with Here or There. Here is your textbook. There are three more exams scheduled for this class. Turn the sentence around. Your textbook is here. Three more exams are scheduled for this class.

6. The subject is a collective noun. What is a collective noun? A collective noun names a group (i.e. family, team, committee). Most collective nouns refer to a group acting as one unit; therefore, they are treated as singular and must have a singular verb. The family rides bikes together each day. The team practices every Saturday.

One Final Note Watch for words that name something that we think of as a single unit, but that actually consist of two parts; these are always plural. Scissors, pants, trousers, tweezers. The scissors are on the table. The pants need ironing. If you add “pair of” to the front of any of these, then they become singular. The pair of scissors is on the table. The pair of pants needs ironing.